About

The original intent of these maps was for a small, self-printed, pamphlet-style book.

The idea is to use this book for impromptu tours of downtown Seattle. The format certainly has its limitations, but its a fun way to inject some trivia while walking around this great city.

Why is it important to know some context about a location? Glad you asked!

The City as Art

The impetus to create this document comes from the idea that the city itself can be experienced as a massive, multidimensional, multigenerational form of art. The artists of this piece are the architects, builders, construction workers, corporations, and individuals who have transformed this physical space in large and small ways to what is presented now. Some of this work is collaborative, some done in isolation, much of it done without thought of the results in the final piece. But regardless of the intent, the effect is a living, breathing entity that can be appreciated as well as any work by DaVinci or O'Keefe, and given its size and roominess, the city as art can typically be enjoyed for a lot longer without being ushered along.

Many believe that when experiencing art, context can provide a deeper, more enriching experience. I agree with this sentiment, which is why I have attempted to compile an imperfect context to aid in experiencing Seattle. Cities are dynamic, layered, and ever changing and evolving. Any attempt to document such an entity is by definition incomplete and out of date. This short document is obviously no exception. Thus, the goal here is not to attempt to be comprehensive, and result in failure, but to provide enough context so as to reveal more of this city, this artwork, to the observer and assist in facilitating an appreciation as in art, or maybe if we are lucky, even a transcendent experience.

Ok. It's also just fun to walk around and look at stuff, right?

The City as a Joke

Whether you find that transcendent state or not, I've also developed a growing list of terrible jokes and puns to use while walking about Seattle that you might enjoy. The intent is to incur as much groaning as possible.

For example, when approaching the library one might say:

As we come up to the Seattle public library, you’ll note that it has quite an unusual look, but please, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Or when walking by the Seattle Art Museum and viewing the outside art installation, one could quip:

The Hammering Man weighs over 10,000 kilos. And, as he shows us, that's a lot of pounds!

Or what about this classic for the Fish Mongerors at Pike Place Market:

And people ask, “why do they throw the fish?” Well it's mostly so they can trout their wares. But sometimes they throw them just for the halibut. And you know, I’ve never seen them drop a fish, yes they never flounder.

Of course these are the best ones, but I'm trying to come up with worse and worse jokes all the time. Join me on a wander around Seattle and I'll tell them to you!